Wrench for coupling sucker rods



2&79396 Nov. 7, 1939. A. n.. BARmNGTUN 'WRENCH FOR GOUPLING SUCKER RODS Filed Feb. 11, 193s Patented Nov. 7, 1939 illitiTED STATES PATENT @iitli 3 Claims.

joints, for which purpose the formation of the wrench and distribution of the material of which it is constructed is such as to facilitate the operation by permitting a greater application of power or force than is aiforded by an ordinary wrench in tightening and loosening the joint, and providing also for a readjustment of the wrench on the sucker rod for turning the latter more rapidly preliminary to tightening the joint and after it is loosened.

With this principal object in view my invention contemplates a construction of wrench for coupling sucker rods in which two Sets or pairs of 25 jaws are provided for engagement with the joint,

one set or pair of rigid jaws being located at the upper end of the implement, while the other set or pair, located intermediate the ends, includes a laterally movable jaw whereby in addition to serving as auxiliary jaws the laterally movable jaw will cooperate with the handle so that the latter may serve also as a tap hammer for tightening and loosening the joint in conjunction with the rigid jaws, for which latter purpose the movable jaw is an extension of the pivoted head of the implement.

A further object of my invention is to construct the combination tool or implement so that it may be utilized `as a claw hammer in addition to its use as a wrench, in either` instance the particular formation of the handle and head of the implement associated therewith being such as to provide a Well balanced tool,'as well as present other advantages specifically set forth in the following specifications.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combination tool or wrench constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof.

Fig. 3 is aside elevation with the head of the tool shown in section.

Fig. Il is a view illustrating the operation of the wrench in loosening a joint, and

Fig. is a perspective View of the head of the combination tool.

The tool or implement constructed in accordance with my invention is made up of two parts pivotally connected together for cooperation in the use of the tool, one of the parts being in the form of a flat head lll shaped to provide workengaging members and having a recess I l extending into the lower end thereof to receive the other part or operating handle l2.

In the present instance the pivoted head is provided at the forward part of the upper end thereof with a depending portion i3, which in addition to providing a claw when the device is to be used as a hammer also forms in conjunction with the spaced apart wall iii of the head a pair of rigid jaws to engage the squared portion l5 of a sucker rod i6, Fig. 4, when the tool is used as a wrench for connecting contiguous sucker rods. These jaws are at the upper end of the tool, and to provide an intermediate pair of jaws `especially adapting the device for use in connecting and disconnecting sucker rods, the pivoted head is provided at its lower end with a depending jaw il formed integrally therewith and coacting with the upper portion of the handle l2, said jaw being preferably located in front of the handle and normally spaced therefrom to correspond with the spacing of the rigid jaws hereinbefore referred to; that is to say, the spacing of the two sets of jaws correspond with the width of the squared portion of a sucker rod joint for which the tool or implement is intended, and consequently may be varied in the manufacture of each individual tool. In other words, the squared portion of sucker rod joints vary from seven-eighths to one and one-eighth inches, more or less, and different size tools will be made accordingly, the pivoting or the handle to the head being for a purpose other than to provide a movable jaw for adjustment, `as will be hereinafter explained.

The projecting portion i3, forming one of the rigid jaws at theupper end of the tool, has the lower end thereof curved outwardly and bifurcated to provide the claw of a hammer, the striking end of which is provided by the opposite face I8, and in order to properly balance the tool or implement when used as a wrench or hammer the lower end of the' handle is enlarged, as at I9, to provide additional weight at this point, said enlargement also preventing the hand of the user from slipping from the handle, especially when the hand or glove covering the same is saturated with oil.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the upper end of the handle i2 is pivoted by pin Eil within recess Il extending into the head of the tool from the lower end thereof, and it will be noted that the shape and size of this recess is such that when the jaw il is spaced from the handle the latter will bear against a vertical wall 2i of` the head, and when moved inwardly said jaw will be in Contact with the opposite edge of the handle, this swinging movement, with particular reference to the handle, permitting the latter to be used as a tap hammer against jaw il for loosening a tight joint as well as tightening up the joint. l/lhen it is difficult or impossible to tighten or loosen a sucker rod joint by the use of an ordi.- nary wrench alone it is customary to accomplish the desired result hy repeatedly striking the wrench with another tool, or hammer. In the present instance the same result is eected by a single combination tool, wherein the handle, including the upper portion or solid shank thereof, serves as a hammer by tapping the same against the head having the rigid jaws in engagement with the joint, as illustrated in Fig. fi. rihis construction oi wrench in which the handle pivoted to the head to permit of a free tapping movement of the handle against the depending position oi' the head, not only applies to wrenches used for connecting and disconnecting suol-ier rod joints but will be found useful in connection with wrenches employed for other purposes, as for instance nut wrenches, etc.

To normally position jaw Il oi the auxiliary pair of. jaws away from the handle so that said jaws may readily engage a sucker rod joint, nut, or other device to be operated on, there is a flat spring 22E located in the recess li and interposed between the handle and opposing wall of said recess, with the face of the handle cut so that the spring will not interfere with the operation of the handle striking the depending portion oi the head (see Fig. 4 of the drawing).

In operating the tool or implement as a wrench for connecting the sucker rods of an oil well pump the turning of the rod or joint preliminary to tightening is eiiiected through the medium or jaw il and upper portion of the handle, the dis* tribution of the material of which the tool is construction, with reference to the head itl and weighted end i9, permitting the wrench to be rapidly swung around, and when the meeting surfaces of the joint are in contact the wrench is readjusted on the sucker rod for engagement of the jaw i3 so that the handle may be tapped against the jaw il! at the lower end of the head for more securely connecting the parts together. Likewisain unscrewing a joint. it may be loosened by tapping the handle against the lower end oi the pivoted head, and then entirely disconnected by engagement of the auxiliary jaws (il and cooperating handle) with the joint for more rapidly unscrewing the joint. It will be obvious, therefore, that the particular construction provides a combined hammer and wrench in connecting and disconnecting sucker rod joints, and that the tool or implement is usable for other purposes in the operation of oil wells, being strongly built and properly balanced to facilitate its manipulation.

I claim:

1. A wrench for coupling and uncoupling sucker rod joints comprising a handle, and a head having a pair of rigid jaws at its upper end, a downwardly projecting portion at one side, and a recess tapering inwardly from the lower end of the head and in which the upper end of the handle is pivoted for tapping it against the downwardly projecting portion in tightening and loosening joints, the aforementioned downwardly projecting portion being spaced in parallel relation with the upper portion of the handle when positioned outwardly therefrom, to provide an auxiliary pair of work-engaging jaws intermediate the rigid jaws and outer end of the handle for manipulating the joint after it is loosened or before it is tightened.

2. A wrench for coupling and uncoupling sucker rod joints comprising a handle, and a head having a pair of rigid jaws at its up; er end, a downwardly projecting portion at one side, and a recess tapering inwardly from the lower end of the head and in which the upper end of the handle is pivoted for tapping it against the down-- wardly projecting portion in tightening and loosening joints, the aforementioned downwardly projecting portion being spaced in parallel relation with the upper portion of the handle when positioned outwardly therefrom, to provide an auxiliary pair of work-engaging jaws interinediate the rigid jaws and outer end of the handle for manipulating the joint after it is loosened or before it is tightened; together with a spring between the upper ond of the handle and adjacent wall of the recess in the head for normally spacing the handle from the downwardly projecting portion in position to receive the sucker rod joint between said projection and handle.

3. A wrench for coupling and uncoupling sucker rod joints comprising a handle, and a head having a pair of rigid jaws at its upper end, a downwardly projecting portion at one side, and a recess tapering inwardly from the lower end of the head and in which the upper end of the handle is pivoted for tapping it against the downwardly projecting portion in tightening and loosening joints, the aforementioned downwardly projecting portion being spaced in parallel relation with the upper portion of the handle when positioned outwardly therefrom, to provide an auxiliary pair of work-engaging jaws intermediate the rigid jaws and outer end of, the handle for manipulating the joint after it is loosened or before it is tightened; together with a spring between the upper end oi the handle and adjacent wall of the recess in the head for normally spacing the handle from the downwardly projecting portion in position to receive the sucker rod joint between said projection and handle, and an enlarged portion at the outer end of the handle to facilitate turning of the wrench when the auxiliary pair of worin-engaging jaws is used in coupling and uncoupling the joint.

AMOS L. BARRINGTON 

